the marmots' feet until
quite firm and smooth; and the grass has been allowed to grow over it to
save it from being washed down by rain. It is evident the animal does
all this with design--just as beavers, in building their houses. Now,
upon these mounds the marmots love to bask, and amuse themselves in the
sun; and it is likely that they can watch their enemies better from this
elevated position, and thus gain time to make good their retreat."

"But some of the mounds look quite dilapidated," observed Francois.
"Look yonder, there are several of them caved in, and guttered by the
rain! What is the reason, I wonder?"

"These are the ones in which the owls live," replied Lucien. "See!
yonder goes an owl into one this very moment! It is supposed that the
owls have taken these from the marmots, and use them exclusively for
their own dwellings; and, as you perceive, they do not keep them in
repair. All they care for is the hole to take shelter in, leaving the
outside works to go to ruin as they may. Certain it is that, although
we have seen them and the dogs rush into the same hole together, it is
because we came suddenly upon them. They do not live thus. The marmots
have their own dwellings, and the owls theirs, which last are the ruined
ones you have noticed."

"But do not the owls eat the marmots?" inquired Basil. "The great owls
of the woods prey upon animals as large. I have seen them kill rabbits
in the dusk of the evening."

"These do not," answered the naturalist; "at least it is supposed they
do not. Many that have been shot and opened proved to have nothing in
their stomachs but insects and beetles--such as these we see upon the
prairie. I think it is probable the owls make an occasional meal of the
horned frogs and lizards; though I have no proof of this farther than
that birds of this kind usually prey upon such reptiles."

"But how live the rattle-snakes?" inquired Francois; "what do they feed
upon?"

"Ah!" replied Lucien, "that is the puzzle of naturalists. Some assert
that they are the tyrants of the community, and devour the old marmots.
This can hardly be, as these snakes are not large enough to swallow
them, in my opinion. Certain it is, however, that they prey
occasionally upon the young, as many of them have been killed with young
marmots in their belly?"

"Why, then," rejoined Francois, "the snakes seem to have it all their
own way. If they eat the young marmots, what is to hinde